More is better

I couldn't help myself, I just had to have these turquoise reading glasses. They were only $1.00 at the Dollar Store. If, you're like me and you wear "readers", you don't just have one pair.


You have many, many pairs.

And still, somehow, I can never find my glasses!

A really good book

The Olive Farm, A Memoir of Life, Love, and Olive Oil in the South of France.

This book was recommended to me by one of you dear bloggers and I'm sorry but I don't remember who it was, but thank you! It's the first one in a series by author, Carol Drinkwater, and I was told to read them in this order ~ The Olive Farm, The Olive Season, The Olive Harvest, The Illustrated Olive Farm, and The Olive Route.

If you've ever read Peter Mayles, A Year in Provence, or Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun, you will enjoy this one too.

Happy reading!!

Seasonal joy

This is the time of year when the brisk cool air makes us want to stay inside and get cozy. However, when walking in the garden this morning I couldn't help notice how the sun warmed my face and the cool breeze felt invigorating. I realized how much I appreciate this season and the simple beauty of it all...

the morning dew on the geraniums,

and the blue sky reflecting in the birdbath.

The shadows from the morning sun caught my eye.

Of course, the only thing Otis and Riley are thinking about is the squirrel.

Inside, we fluff our nests,

and cozy in for the days ahead.

The seasonal beauty is all around us.

I'm back

We just spent a few days in Pennsylvania for my brother's memorial service, and even though it was an emotionally exhausting weekend, I think now we have found a peace and will carry loving memories of Steve in our hearts forever.

It was a long day travelling back home in the car, but when the sun was out, the colors of the leaves were absolutely breathtaking and it made for a beautiful day.

I'm now glad to be home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to show you my latest painting.




You know how I love geraniums, so I painted this little painting of red geraniums that were on my front porch.

4x5 acrylic on canvas

Bright and cheerful red geraniums.

Wouldn't it be nice if geraniums would last all year long?

Thank you

Thank you so much for all of your support during this difficult time. Your kind words, thoughts and prayers are a great comfort to me. Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment, I truly appreciate it.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Remembering...

.....my brother

who passed away this week.

The pain passes but the beauty remains.

Missing you, Steve.

A yummy dessert

I made this apple crisp after seeing it on Sherri's blog the other day. It looked sooooo good. The recipe called for McIntosh apples but I used what I had on hand....some Granny Smith and Gala apples.

Here's the recipe:

Apple Crisp

8-10 McIntosh apples, pared and sliced

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick butter

cinnamon to taste

Pare and slice apples and scatter in a pie plate. In another bowl mix all other ingredients. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples making sure all apples are covered. Cook 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

Really easy.

Warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.......oh, it was sooooooo good.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Otis and Riley and I are going for a walk. Why don't you come along.

It's an absolutely gorgeous fall day, the kind you of day that makes you want to be outside and breathe in the fresh air and warm sunshine.

Some of the leaves have started to change color.

We passed a magnolia tree on the way to the park. This is a beautiful pink magnolia bud.

Once we get to the park, Otis and Riley take off running. They love it here.

On our way home, the boys have their noses to the ground.

The leaves are so pretty.

We pass a cute little ghost...

and the most gorgeous mums (I wish mine would grow like that).

And so ends our enjoyable walk out and about the neighborhood.

Hope you're enjoying your day outside if you can.

Pumpkins

pumpkins by the barn

watercolor

I've been painting pumpkins...lots of pumpkins. They're everywhere this time of year. I love seeing them by the front door welcoming friends, or piled high in an old farm wagon, and just the site of them growing in a country field making it look like a sea of orange...beautiful.

stacked pumpkins

watercolor

pumpkin

watercolor

These pumpkins come in little prints that are perfect for framing.

They also come in note cards so you can send a little Halloween or Thanksgiving greeting to someone you love, or maybe a thank you note.

Find them all at whimsytwo.

Brrrrrrrr

Who turned down the heat?




Colder temperatures ~ and already Otis and Riley have found the warm patch of sunlight on the floor in front of my art table in the study.

I wonder how long my pretty geraniums will last in this chilly weather.

October

It's time to do a little fall/halloween decorating. I keep it simple. A wreath on the front door.

The fall flag goes up.

Did you notice my summer flowers in the window boxes are thriving, so I haven't changed them for fall and winter yet.



And, of course, a cute little pumpkin on the window sill.

Keeping it simple.

Finally........

SUN

and a much needed cup of coffee.

Otis and Riley and I enjoyed basking in the sunlight today. Of course, in between coffee breaks I also trimmed the hedge and pruned some bushes.

We also enjoyed a nice long walk.

And then some treats.

It was a great day to be outside.

A painting

Autumn ~ a watercolor

I remember (a long time ago) when I was in elementary school in the fall of the year, our art teacher had us all paint a colorful autumn tree ~ a tree with any color leaf you could think of, she said, in bright beautiful colors, and have fun. I will never forgot that class. It was fun and I loved all the different trees that everyone painted. We then got to hang them on the windows in our classroom.


I don't know where my painted tree ever got to, but every fall I think about that painting class with all those beautiful colored trees, and the warm memories of that day.


Today I painted an autumn tree.

The last of the tomatoes.

The harvest is done. I think next year I'll plant more tomatoes.

Drink more coffee.

Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven. ~ Jessie Lane Adams

See my coffee cards on whimsytwo.

Enjoying the sunshine today.

Have a good weekend.

Fall color

Bring some fall color inside.

Bright orange pyracantha berries look so pretty in a copper pot.

Never forget to smile

Little Washington

A spur of the moment day trip

Did you every wake up on a weekend and decide it's a beautiful day for a road trip and just hop in the car and go?

We do that often, and since it was a gorgeous fall day we thought we'd head for the coast and visit a small town called Washington, NC, often referred to as "Little Washington" down here.

It's a small town by the water with lots of boating, and a quaint downtown with beautiful homes and cottages.



We enjoyed the walk by the water...

the breeze and sunshine felt heavenly and I love the sound of the sea gulls.

Here are some of the homes and cottages.

Around town you could see these painted crabs. It must have been some type of art project for the town.

Very whimisical.

Unique shops.

Road marker: Home of motion picture producer Cecil B. DeMille and his father Henry.

A beautiful church and old cemetery.

The old train station.

And lastly, an ice cream cone for the way home. Chocolate for me, please!

Otis and Riley and bath time

Otis would be happy to skip the whole thing.

We have lots of towels and baby shampoo.

Riley really doesn't want to.

Nice warm water and lots of bubbles.

And before you know it........

All clean!

~~~~~

Then, it's outside to play and sniff and watch for that annoying squirrel.

After that.........a nice nap.

Happy doxies.

Check whimsytwo for doxie cards.